Display control system

ABSTRACT

To provide a display control system, etc. for easy viewing of intended information. A display control means  10  of a server computer  4  controls, when the cursor of a display means  22  of a personal computer  6  is brought to one of plural items of information constituting a second group of items of information displayed on the second display area  26  of the display means  22,  to assume that an information choice instruction is given and, according to the information choice instruction, to choose one of plural items of information constituting the second group of information, to choose on the basis of a relation table  18  one or more items of information constituting a first group of items of information related to the one item of information chosen from the second group of items of information, and to attach a choice mark to the items of information chosen out of the items of information displayed on the first display area  24.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The entire disclosure of a Japanese Patent Application No.2000-127375 filed on Apr. 27, 2000 including its specification, claims,drawings, and summary are incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a display control system, adisplay control device, and a display control method, and in particularrelates to a technique of controlling a display device for displayinginformation according to an information choice instruction entered.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] Versatile pieces of information may be provided using Web pagesprovided through the Internet. FIG. 14 shows part of a conventional Webpage, an example related to the information on cars.

[0004] The conventional Web page is arranged to display an informationindex table 92 on the display screen of a user's computer (not shown).When the user clicks any index displayed, details (not shown) of theindexed information are displayed. The user may find an appropriateindex from the table 92 and click the index to get further information.

[0005] However, the conventional Web pages have a problem. In the caseof FIG. 14 for example, the user may not know which index to click whenthe user wants to sell his or her own car. In particular when the useris not so familiar with cars, it is hard to determine an appropriateindex when there are a large number of indices.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provided a displaycontrol system, etc. that solves the above problem associated with theconventional Web pages, etc. and that makes it possible to view easilyintended information.

[0007] A display control system according the present inventioncomprising:

[0008] an input means through which an information choice instruction isentered,

[0009] a display means for displaying information,

[0010] a display control means for controlling the display means todisplay information according to the information choice instructionentered through the input means, and

[0011] a memory means for storing plural items of informationconstituting a first group of items of information, wherein

[0012] the display control means controls to read plural items ofinformation constituting the first group of items of information fromthe memory means, to simultaneously display the read items ofinformation on a first display area of the display means, to choose oneor more items of information constituting a first group of informationaccording to the information choice instruction entered through theinput means, and to attach a choice mark to the items of informationchosen out of the items of information displayed on the first displayarea.

[0013] A display control system according to the present inventioncomprising:

[0014] an input means through which information choice instruction isentered,

[0015] a display means for displaying information,

[0016] a display control means for controlling the display means todisplay information according to the information choice instructionentered through the input means, and

[0017] a memory means for storing plural items of informationconstituting a first group of items of information, wherein

[0018] the display control means controls to choose one or more items ofinformation constituting the first group of items of informationaccording to the information choice instruction entered through theinput means, to read the one or more items of information chosen fromthe memory means, and to display them in the order of specified displaypriority degrees on the first display area of the display means.

[0019] A display control device according to the present invention, forcontrolling to display information using a display means according to aninformation choice instruction entered through an input means,comprising:

[0020] a memory means for storing plural items of informationconstituting a first group of items of information, and

[0021] a display control means for controlling to read from the memorymeans plural items of information constituting the first group of itemsof information, to display the items of information simultaneously on afirst display area of the display means, to choose one or more items ofinformation constituting the first group of items of informationaccording to the information choice instruction entered through theinput means, and to attach a choice mark to the items of informationchosen out of the items of information displayed on the first displayarea.

[0022] A display control device according to the present invention, forcontrolling to display information using a display means according to aninformation choice instruction entered through an input means,comprising:

[0023] a memory means for storing plural items of informationconstituting a first group of items of information, and

[0024] a display control means for controlling to choose one or moreitems of information constituting a first group of items of informationaccording to an information choice instruction entered through the inputmeans, to read the one or more items of information chosen from thememory means, and to display them in the order of specified displaypriority degrees on a first display area of the display means.

[0025] A recording medium on which is recorded a program according tothe present invention, the program for causing a computer system, madeup of an input means for entering an information choice instruction, adisplay means for displaying information, and a memory means for storingplural items of information constituting a first group of items ofinformation, to perform controlling process of displaying information ona display means according to the information choice instruction enteredthrough the input means, wherein the controlling process comprising thesteps of: reading from a memory means plural items of informationconstituting the first group of items of information, displaying theinformation simultaneously on a first display area of the display means,choosing one or more items of information constituting the first groupof items of information according to the information choice instructionentered through the input means, and attaching a choice mark to theitems of information chosen out of the items of information displayed onthe first display area.

[0026] A recording medium on which is recorded a program according tothe present invention, the program for causing a computer system, madeup of an input means for entering an information choice instruction, adisplay means for displaying information, and a memory means for storingplural items of information constituting a first group of items ofinformation, to perform controlling process of displaying information ona display means according to an information choice instruction enteredthrough the input means, wherein the controlling process comprising thesteps of: choosing one or more items of information constituting thefirst group of information according to the information choiceinstruction entered through the input means, reading the one or moreitems of information chosen from the memory means, and displaying in theorder of specified display priority degrees on a first display area ofthe display means.

[0027] A display control method according to the present invention forcontrolling to display information on a display means according to aninformation choice instruction entered, arranged for controlling

[0028] to store and hold plural items of information constituting afirst group of items of information,

[0029] to read the plural items of information constituting the firstgroup of information stored and held, to display the items ofinformation simultaneously on a first display area of the displaydevice, to choose one or more items of information constituting thefirst group of items of information according to the information choiceinstruction entered, and to attach a choice mark to the items ofinformation chosen out of the items of information displayed on thefirst display area.

[0030] A display control method according to the present invention forcontrolling to display information on a display means according to aninformation choice instruction entered, arranged for controlling

[0031] to store and hold plural items of information constituting afirst group of items of information,

[0032] to choose one or more items of information constituting the firstgroup of items of information according to the information choiceinstruction entered, and to display the chosen one or more items ofinformation in the order of specified display priority degrees on afirst display area of the display means.

[0033] While the features of the present invention may be broadly shownas the above, the constitution and contents of the invention, togetherwith its object and detailed features, will become more apparent by wayof the following disclosure in reference to the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034]FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the constitution of adisplay control system 2 as an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035]FIG. 2 shows an example of hardware constitution of the displaycontrol system 2 shown in FIG. 1 using a server computer 4 and apersonal computer 6.

[0036]FIG. 3 is an example flowchart of a process of displaying a choicemark (a choice mark displaying process) on the first display area 24 onthe CRT 64 of the personal computer 6 of the display control system 2.

[0037]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example of process of editing anddisplaying data (an automatic editing process) on the first display area24 on the CRT 64 of the personal computer 6 of the display controlsystem 2.

[0038]FIG. 5 shows an example of data constitution of a data file 14.

[0039]FIG. 6 shows an example of data constitution of a theme file 16.

[0040]FIG. 7 shows an example of data constitution of a relation table18.

[0041]FIG. 8 shows an example image displayed on the CRT 64 of thepersonal computer 6 in the choice mark displaying process.

[0042]FIG. 9 shows an example image displayed on the CRT 64 of thepersonal computer 6 in the choice mark displaying process.

[0043]FIG. 10 shows an example image displayed on the CRT 64 of thepersonal computer 6 in the choice mark displaying process.

[0044]FIG. 11 shows an example image displayed on the CRT 64 of thepersonal computer 6 in the automatic editing process.

[0045]FIG. 12 shows an example image displayed on the CRT 64 of thepersonal computer 6 in the automatic editing process.

[0046]FIG. 13 shows an example image displayed on the CRT 64 of thepersonal computer 6 in the automatic editing process.

[0047]FIG. 14 shows part of a conventional Web page.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0048]FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the constitution of adisplay control system 2 as an embodiment of the present invention. Thedisplay control system 2 comprises a server computer (display controldevice) 4, and a personal computer 6 or a terminal computer communicablewith the server computer 4 through a communications network, theInternet 8.

[0049] The server computer 4 comprises a display control means 10 and amemory means 12. In the memory means 12 are provided a data file 14, atheme file 16, and a relation table 18.

[0050] The personal computer 6 comprises an input means 20 and a displaymeans (display device) 22. The display means 22 has a first display area24 and a second display area 26. The display control system 2 shown inFIG. 1 is arranged to be connected to plural personal computers 6.

[0051] Information choice instructions are entered through the inputmeans 20 of the personal computers 6. The display means 22 of thepersonal computers 6 displays information.

[0052] The data file (first file) 14 constituting the memory means 12 ofthe server computer 4 stores and holds items of information, thatconstitutes a first group of items of information or the data relatedthe above-mentioned data, in a state ready for being divided into pluralinformation fields (See FIG. 5).

[0053] Plural items of information or themes constituting the secondgroup of items of information are stored in the theme file 16 (secondfile) (See FIG. 6).

[0054] The relation table 18 stores the corresponding relationshipbetween plural items of data constituting the first group of items ofinformation and plural themes constituting the second group of items ofinformation. The relation table also stores the display priority degreesof the respective data, constituting the first group of items ofinformation, on the first display area for respective themesconstituting the second group of items of information (See FIG. 7).

[0055] The display control means 10 of the server computer 4 controlsthe display means 22 of the personal computer 6 through the Internet 8to display information on the basis of information choice instructionentered through the input means 20 of the personal computer 6 andtransmitted through the Internet 8.

[0056] To put it more in detail, the display control means 10 readsplural items of data constituting the first group of items ofinformation from the data file 14 of the memory means 12 andsimultaneously displays them through the Internet 8 on the first displayarea 24 of the display means 22 of the personal computer 6.

[0057] At this time, the display control means 10 controls to divide thefirst display area 24 of the display means 22 into plural areas 32, 34,36 (FIG. 8) corresponding to plural fields of information, and todisplay data of corresponding fields of information or data related tothe data of corresponding fields of information in the respective,divided areas.

[0058] The display control means 10 also reads plural themesconstituting the second group of information from the theme file 16 ofthe memory means 12 and simultaneously displays them in the seconddisplay area 26 of the display means 22 of the personal computer 6 (SeeFIG. 8).

[0059] The display control means 10, when the cursor of the displaymeans 22 is pointed to a theme, or a constituent of the second group ofitems of information displayed on the second display area 26 of thedisplay means 22 of the personal computer 6, assumes the theme to havebeen chosen by an information choice instruction and controls to chooseaccording to the information choice instruction one of plural themesconstituting the second group of items of information, to choose one ormore items of data constituting the first group of items of informationrelated to the one theme chosen out of the second group of items ofinformation on the basis of the relation table 18, and to attach achoice mark to those data chosen out of the data displayed on the firstdisplay area (See FIG. 9).

[0060] This embodiment is arranged to display the currently chosenchoice mark until the cursor is pointed to a new theme in the secondgroup of items of information.

[0061] The display control means 10 also controls, when a theme, or aconstituent of the second group of items of information displayed on thesecond display area of the display means 22 of the personal computer 6is clicked, assumes the click to be an information choice instructionand controls to choose according to the information choice instructionone of plural themes constituting the second group of items ofinformation, to choose one or more data constituting the first group ofitems of information related to the one theme chosen out of the secondgroup of items of information on the basis of the relation table 18, andto display one or more items of data the chosen on the first displayarea 24 of the display means 22 (See FIG. 11).

[0062] At this time, the display control means 10 determines accordingto the relation table 18 the display priority degrees of one or moreitems of data constituting the first group of items of informationcorresponding to the one theme chosen out of the second group of itemsof information. This embodiment is arranged to display the data ofhigher degree of relation to a theme is displayed in a higher positionon the first display area 24.

[0063] This embodiment is arranged that, when displaying the one or moreitems of data chosen on the first display area 24 of the display means22, the first display area 24 is expanded over the area that has beenthe second display area 26, so that the second display area 26temporarily disappears (See FIG. 11).

[0064] The display control means 10 also controls to display data, in astate to be chosen, in the plural divisions of the first display area24, and, when a specific data displayed on the first display area 24constituting the first group of items of information is chosen(clicked), data related to the chosen data are displayed (See FIG. 12).

[0065] At this time, the display control means 10 controls, if any datadisplayed on the first display area 24 is chosen (clicked), to make thedisplay area size of the division area containing the chosen data(division area 34 in the example shown in FIG. 12) greater than that ofother division areas (division areas 32, 36 in FIG. 12).

[0066]FIG. 2 shows an example of hardware constitution of the displaycontrol system 2 shown in FIG. 1 using a server computer 4 and apersonal computer 6.

[0067] The server computer 4 comprises a hard disk 50 or a memory meansor a memory medium having stored a program of the present system, a CPU42 or a display control means for running the program stored in the harddisk 50, a CRT 44, a keyboard 46 and a mouse 48, and a communicationinterface 52 to communicate with the personal computer 6 through theInternet 8.

[0068] The hard disk 50 of the server computer 4 also has stored inaddition to the above-mentioned program a data file 14, a theme file 16,and a relation table.

[0069] The personal computer 6 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a display means(display device) or a CRT 64, an input means or a keyboard 66 with amouse 68, a recording medium or a hard disk 70 having recordedinformation viewing program (the information being exchanged through theInternet 8), a CPU 62 for running the program and the like stored on thehard disk 70, and a communication interface 72 to communicate with theserver computer 4 through the Internet 8.

[0070]FIG. 3 is an example flowchart of a process of displaying a choicemark on the first display area 24 on the CRT 64 (a choice markdisplaying process) of the personal computer 6 of the display controlsystem 2.

[0071]FIG. 5 shows an example of data constitution of the data file 14.The data file 14 stores data (indices and more detailed explanations) ina file form such as HTML to be displayed on the first display area 24 ofthe personal computer 6. Respective data are affixed with data IDs(‘D1’,) and with descriptions of information fields (F1, . . . ) towhich the data belong.

[0072]FIG. 6 shows an example of data constitution of a theme file 16.The theme file 16 stores themes to be displayed on the second displayarea 26 of the personal computer 6 in a file form such as HTML.Respective themes are provided with theme IDs (‘T1’, . . . ).

[0073]FIG. 7 shows an example of data constitution of the relation table18. In the relation table 18 is described relationship between the datato be displayed on the first display area 24 and the themes to bedisplayed on the second display area 26 of the personal computer 6. Thatis to say, the data IDs and the theme IDs are listed in correspondingrelation with each other.

[0074] Besides, degrees of theme relation between the listed data IDsand the theme IDs are listed. This embodiment is arranged to give ahigher numerical value to a higher data-to-theme relation.

[0075] FIGS. 8 to 10 show examples of images displayed on the CRT 64 ofthe personal computer 6 in the choice mark displaying process.

[0076] The choice mark displaying process is described in reference toFIGS. 2, 3, 5 to 10. First, the CPU 42 of the server computer 4 readsthemes (six themes in the example shown in FIG. 8), in a mode ofinformation, from the theme file 16 stored in the hard disk 50 and shownin FIG. 6.

[0077] Likewise, the CPU 42 reads data, in another mode of information(data of many indices in the example shown in FIG. 8), from the datafile 14 stored as shown in FIG. 5 in the hard disk 50.

[0078] Next, the CPU 42 controls to display the read theme and datarepresenting indices (hereinafter simply referred to as “indices” asappropriate) respectively on the second display area 26 and the firstdisplay area 24 of the CRT 64 of the personal computer 6 through theInternet 8 (FIG. 3, step S1).

[0079] As shown in FIG. 8, six themes related to cars “want to sell acar,” “want to buy a used car,” . . . , “insurance, loan, lease” aredisplayed from top toward bottom in the second display area 26.

[0080] On the other hand, the first display area 24 is divided intothree division areas 32, 34, and 36 arranged side by side. In the firstdivision area 32 are displayed indices, belonging to an informationfield of advice on cars, such as “selling your car at a high price” (forexample, corresponding to the information field F1 shown in FIG. 5).

[0081] In the second division area 34 are displayed indices belonging toan information field of social reputation about cars such as “businesscircle news,” etc. (for example, corresponding to the information fieldF2 shown in FIG. 5). In the third division area 36 are displayed indicesbelonging to the information field of various data related to cars suchas “new car information,” etc (for example, corresponding to theinformation field F3 shown in FIG. 5).

[0082] Next, the CPU 42 of the server computer 4 monitors through theInternet 8 whether or not the cursor (not shown) is pointed to one ofthe themes displayed on the second display area 26 of the CRT 64 of thepersonal computer 6 (FIG. 3, step S2).

[0083] If a user of the personal computer 64 brings the cursor to one ofthe themes, such as “want to sell my car” (theme ID ‘T1’), thisinformation is transmitted through the Internet 8 to the server computer4.

[0084] The CPU 42 of the server computer 4, based on the informationtransmitted, searches through the relation table 18 shown in FIG. 7, andchooses indices (‘D1’, ‘D2’, ‘D4’, . . . ) provided with the theme ‘T1’(FIG. 3, step S3).

[0085] The CPU 42 of the server computer 4 displays as shown in FIG. 9the indices (‘D1’, ‘D2’, ‘D4’, . . . ) chosen as described above, with achoice mark 38 (icon of a car in the example shown in FIG. 9) (FIG. 3,step S4).

[0086] As shown in FIG. 9, the choice marks 38 are displayed on a choicemark display area provided near the indices (for example “to sell a newcar at a high price” displayed on the division area 32).

[0087] The CPU 42 of the server computer 4 monitors through the Internet8 whether or not the cursor (not shown) is brought to another one ofthemes displayed on the second display area 26 of the CRT 64 of thepersonal computer 6 (FIG. 3, step S5). The CPU 42 controls to maintainthe current state of the displayed choice mark 38 unless the cursor isbrought to another theme.

[0088] When the user of the personal computer 6 brings the cursor toanother theme, for example “want to buy a used car” (theme ‘T2’), theinformation is transmitted through the Internet 8 to the server computer4.

[0089] The CPU 42 of the server computer 4, on the basis of thetransmitted information, moves the control process to the step S3 ofFIG. 3. That is, it searches through the relation table 18 shown in FIG.7, and chooses indices ‘D3’, . . . provided with the theme ‘T2’ (FIG. 3,step S3), displays as shown in FIG. 10 the chosen indices ‘D3’, . . .with a choice mark 38 attached (FIG. 3, step S4).

[0090] In this way, every time the cursor is brought to a differenttheme, an index corresponding to that theme is displayed with the choicemark 38 attached.

[0091] Next, another process with this display control system 2 isexplained. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example process of editing anddisplaying data (an automatic editing process) on the first display area24 on the CRT 64 of the personal computer 6 of the display controlsystem 2.

[0092] FIGS. 11 to 13 show example images displayed on the CRT 64 of thepersonal computer 6 in the automatic editing process.

[0093] The automatic editing process is described in reference to FIGS.2, 4 to 7, and 11 to 13. The step S11 of FIG. 4 is similar to the stepS1 of FIG. 3. Namely, in the step S11, the displayed state of the CRT 64of the personal computer 6 becomes as shown in FIG. 8.

[0094] In this state, the CPU 42 of the server computer 4 monitorsthrough the Internet 8 whether or not any theme displayed on the seconddisplay area 26 of the CRT 64 of the personal computer 6 has beenclicked (FIG. 4, step S12).

[0095] When the user of the personal computer 6 clicks any theme, suchas “want to sell my car” (theme ID ‘T1’), this information istransmitted through the Internet 8 to the server computer 4.

[0096] The CPU 42 of the server computer 4, based on the informationtransmitted, carries out automatic editing (FIG. 4, step S13) asdescribed below.

[0097] First, the CPU 42 of the server computer 4, based on theinformation transmitted, searches through the relation table 18 shown inFIG. 7 to choose indices ‘D1’, ‘D2’, ‘D4’, . . . provided with the theme‘T1’.

[0098] Next, the CPU 42 of the server computer 4 determines the displaypriority degrees of the chosen indices ‘D1’, ‘D2’, ‘D4’, . . . in thedivision areas 32, 34, and 36. The display priority degrees aredetermined by comparing the theme relation degrees in the relation table18 shown in FIG. 7.

[0099] In this example, as seen from the data file 14 of FIG. 5, forexample the indices ‘D2’ and ‘D4’ belong to the same information field‘F2’. Also as seen from the relation table 18 shown in FIG. 7, the themerelation degrees of the indices ‘D2’ and ‘D4’ for the theme ‘T1’ are‘40’ and ‘60’, respectively.

[0100] Therefore, in the second division area 34 corresponding to theinformation field ‘F2’, the index ‘D4’ is higher in display prioritydegree than the index ‘D2’. That is to say, the index ‘D4’ is to bedisplayed in a higher position than the index ‘D2’ in the seconddivision area 34.

[0101] Next, the CPU 42 determines the display area size of the divisionareas 32, 34, and 36. This embodiment is arranged, when any themedisplayed on the second display area 26 is clicked, to increase the areasize of the first division area 32 constituting the first display area24 to be greater than that of the second division area 34 and the thirddivision area 36.

[0102] This embodiment is also arranged, when any theme displayed on thesecond display area 26 is clicked, to display more detailed data (namelythe information related to the chosen information) about the indexrelated to the first division area 32 constituting the first displayarea 24.

[0103] Next, the CPU 42 displays through the Internet 8 the results ofautomatic editing described above on the CRT 64 of the personal computer6 (FIG. 4, step S14). FIG. 11 shows an example of the automaticallyedited results displayed on the CRT 64 of the personal computer 6.

[0104] At this time as shown in FIG. 11, the second display area 26 isnot provided on the CRT 64 of the personal computer 6 to maximize thefirst display area 24.

[0105] Next, the CPU 42 of the server computer 4 monitors through theInternet 8 whether or not any theme displayed on the first display area24 of the CRT 64 of the personal computer 6 has been clicked (FIG. 4,step S15).

[0106] When the user of the personal computer 6 clicks for example“personal transaction” displayed on the second division area 34constituting the first display area 24, this information is transmittedthrough the Internet 8 to the server computer 4.

[0107] The CPU 42 of the server computer 4, based on the informationtransmitted, displays detailed data about the “personal transaction” inthe second division area 34 as shown in FIG. 12 (FIG. 4, step S16).

[0108] At this time, it is arranged to increase the size of the seconddivision area 34 to be greater than that of the first division area 32and the third division area 36. In this way, the area for displayingmore detailed data about the index “personal transaction” is favorablysecured.

[0109] Next, the CPU 42 of the server computer 4 changes the controlback to the step S15 of FIG. 4 to monitor whether or not any indexdisplayed on the first display area 24 of the CRT 64 of the personalcomputer 6 has been clicked.

[0110] For example, if the “car purchase information” displayed on thethird division area 36 constituting the first display are 24 is clickedin that state, namely in the state shown in FIG. 12, the state of theCRT 64 of the personal computer 6 changes to the state as shown in FIG.13.

[0111] Incidentally, while this embodiment is described as an example inwhich a theme is clicked in the state of the step 11 or the state shownin FIG. 8, the automatic editing related to the present invention is notlimited to the above example.

[0112] For example, the automatic editing may also be applied to thecase of clicking a theme or index in the state shown in FIG. 9. That isto say, when the “want to sell my car” (theme ‘T1’) displayed on thesecond display area 26 is clicked, the process from the step S13 on ofFIG. 4 is carried out, and an image shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on theCRT 64 of the personal computer 6.

[0113] Also for example, when the index “personal transaction” displayedon the second division area 34 constituting the first display area 24 isclicked in the state shown in FIG. 9, the process from the step S16 ofFIG. 4 is carried out, and an image shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on theCRT 64 of the personal computer 6.

[0114] The display screen of this embodiment is arranged to take anyhierarchical structure. For example, when part of the detailed datadisplayed on the first division area 32 is clicked in the displayedstate of FIG. 11 (for example “(1) market price of your car you shouldknow”), further detailed explanation about “(1) market price of your caryou should know” (information related to the chosen information) isdisplayed on the first division area 32 (not shown).

[0115] As described above, this embodiment is arranged to affix thechoice mark 38 to only the data, of the plural data displayedsimultaneously on the first display area 24, chosen according to thechoice instruction entered. Therefore, any person who wants to view datacan easily find the data related to the choice instruction out of alarge number of data by simply entering the choice instruction. Namely,intended data related to the choice instruction may be easily found.

[0116] This embodiment is also arranged that, of the plural data, onlythe data chosen according to the choice instruction entered aredisplayed on the first display area in the order of display prioritydegrees. Therefore, any person who wants to view specific data caneasily find the data related to the choice instruction out of a largenumber of data by simply entering the choice instruction. Namely,intended data related to the choice instruction may be easily found.

[0117] Incidentally, while the above embodiment is described as anexample of displaying the information on cars, application of thepresent invention is not limited to displaying the car information butmay be to any displaying information in general.

[0118] While the above embodiment is arranged to choose the datacorresponding to a certain theme by providing in advance the relationbetween the theme and data in the form of the table shown in FIG. 7 forexample, the method of determining the theme to data relation is notlimited to the above.

[0119] For example, it may be arranged to subject data and/or theme tovarious methods of sentence analysis, on the basis of the analysisresults, to calculate the corresponding relation between themes anddata, and to choose data corresponding to a certain theme according tothe calculated relationship.

[0120] While the car icon as an example is used as a choice mark in theabove embodiment, the choice mark is not limited to that as a matter ofcourse. Also, while the choice mark is displayed on the choice markdisplay area provided near the data, the choice mark may be displayed onany other position.

[0121] While the above example is provided with the choice mark and thedata, the function of the choice mark may be replaced by other methods,for example by changing the color of data display, using different fontof characters or bold characters, so that they stand out.

[0122] While data are displayed in the above embodiment from top towardbottom on the display screen according to the display priority degrees,the present invention is not limited to the above. For example, the datamay be displayed from left to right on the display screen according tothe display priority degrees.

[0123] It may also be arranged to display data with time intervals onthe display screen according to the display priority degrees. Forexample, it may be arranged that data of a highest display prioritydegree is displayed first on the display screen, followed by data of asecond highest priority degree, and data of the lowest display priorityis displayed last.

[0124] While the above embodiment is arranged to determine the displaypriority degrees of data by providing in advance the theme relationbetween the theme and data in the form of the table shown in FIG. 7 forexample, the method of determining the display priority degrees is notlimited to the above.

[0125] For example, it maybe arranged to subject data and/or theme to bedisplayed to various methods of sentence analysis, on the basis of theanalysis results, to calculate the theme-to-data relation degrees (themerelation degrees), and to determine the display priority degreesaccording to the calculated theme relation degrees.

[0126] Furthermore, the display priority degrees may be determined, forexample, according to the Japanese syllabary or in the order of dataentry, irrespective of the theme-to-data relation degrees.

[0127] The above embodiment is described as an example in which entry ofthe information choice instruction is made by sliding the cursor to thedisplayed information (theme or data) or by clicking the displayedinformation. However, the method of entering the information choiceinstruction is not limited to the above.

[0128] For example, the present invention may also be applied to thecase in which the information choice instruction is entered through akeyboard or by voice. In that case, it is not always necessary to storeor display information that constitutes the second group of items ofinformation.

[0129] However, displaying the information constituting the second groupof items of information is convenient for users because users can easilychoose specific piece of information to be chosen from displayed piecesof information.

[0130] The above block diagrams, hardware constitution, flowcharts, datastructures, tables, display screens, etc. are mere examples and thepresent invention is not limited to those items enumerated above.

[0131] Also the number of tables is not specifically limited. Theprocess of using tables may also be carried out using algorithm insteadas described above.

[0132] The above embodiment is arranged with the server computer 4storing the system program and data to control the personal computer 6through the Internet 8. However, the present invention is not limited tothat arrangement.

[0133] For example, it is possible to make the personal computer 6 havepart of the program and data of the system. As a matter of course,plural computers may be used as server computers. In that case, suchcomputers may be interconnected through a communications network such asthe Internet.

[0134] While the above embodiment is described as an example in whichthe Internet is used as a communications network, the network is notlimited to the Internet. For example, this invention may be applied toother network such as a LAN (local area network) through which theserver computer and terminal devices such as personal computers areinterconnected.

[0135] Furthermore, this invention is not limited to the case in whichmore than one computers are interconnected through a communicationsnetwork. For example, this invention may also be applied to the case ofusing a standalone computer.

[0136] In this embodiment, it is assumed to install the program of thissystem in the hard disk and run. However, the means for holding theprogram is not limited to the above. For example, the program of thissystem may also be recorded on a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, or a magnetictape.

[0137] Furthermore, the program of this system may also be distributedthrough wired or wireless communications network. Besides, it is alsopossible to install the program of this system in a main server computerto make a local server computer run the program of this system through anetwork such as the Internet.

[0138] Furthermore, the manner of recording programs and data are notspecially limited. In addition to recording in the form ready to run,recording may be made in the compressed form to be decompressed and run.

[0139] While the above embodiment is described as an example realizingvarious functions shown in FIG. 1 using computers, part of the functionsof FIG. 1 may be constituted with hardware logic.

[0140] The display control system, the display control device, therecording medium with a program recorded therein, and the displaycontrol method according to the present invention are characterized bybeing controlled such that

[0141] plural items of information that constitute a first group ofitems of information are recorded and held,

[0142] plural items of information constituting the first group of itemsof information recorded and held are read and displayed simultaneouslyin a first display area,

[0143] one or more items of information constituting the first group ofitems of information are chosen on the basis of an information choiceinstruction entered, and

[0144] the items of information chosen out of the items of informationdisplayed on the first display area are provided with a choice mark anddisplayed.

[0145] In other words, of the plural items of information displayedsimultaneously on the first display area, only those chosen on the basisof a choice instruction entered are provided with a choice mark.Therefore, one who wants to view information can easily find theinformation related to the choice instruction by simply entering thechoice instruction. Namely, an intended piece or pieces of informationrelated to the choice instruction can be easily viewed.

[0146] The display control system, the display control device, therecording medium with a program recorded therein, and the displaycontrol method according to the present invention are characterized bybeing controlled such that

[0147] plural items of information that constitute a first group ofitems of information are recorded and held,

[0148] one or more items of information constituting the first group ofitems of information are chosen on the basis of an information choiceinstruction entered, and

[0149] the one or more items of information chosen are displayed on thefirst display area according to predetermined display priority degrees.

[0150] In other words, of the plural items of information, only thosechosen on the basis of the choice instruction entered are displayed onthe first display area according to predetermined display prioritydegrees. Therefore, one who wants to view information can easily findthe information related to the choice instruction by simply entering thechoice instruction. Namely, an intended piece or pieces of informationrelated to the choice instruction can be easily viewed.

[0151] In the display control device and the recording medium havingrecorded a program according to the present invention, a memory meansfurther stores plural items of information that constitute the secondgroup of items of information and that are made to correspond, in apredetermined corresponding relation, to plural items of informationthat constitute the first group of items of information. It is alsocharacterized by being controlled such that

[0152] plural items of information constituting the second group ofitems of information are read from a memory means and displayedsimultaneously in the second display area of the display means, one ofplural items of information constituting the second group of items ofinformation is chosen according to an information choice instructionentered through an input means, one or more items of informationconstituting the first group of items of information made to correspondin a predetermined corresponding relation is or are chosen on the basisof the chosen one item of information, and the items of informationchosen out of those displayed on the first display area are displayedwith a choice mark attached.

[0153] In other words, in the second display area are displayed theitems of information of the second group of items of information made tocorrespond in the predetermined corresponding relation to the pluralitems of information constituting the first group of items ofinformation. Therefore, one who wants to view information can easilyfind the information related to the chosen one of the large number ofitems of information constituting the first group of items ofinformation by simply entering an information choice instruction bychoosing one of plural items of information displayed on the seconddisplay area.

[0154] The display control device and the recording medium havingrecorded a program according to the present invention are characterizedby being controlled such that

[0155] when the cursor of the display means is slid to one of pluralitems of information constituting the second group of items ofinformation displayed on the second display area of the display means,that item of information is deemed to have been chosen, items ofinformation displayed on the first display area corresponding to theitem of information to which the cursor is slid are provided with achoice mark and displayed, and the currently displayed choice marksremain displayed until the cursor is slid to another item of informationin the second group of items of information.

[0156] Therefore, one who wants to view information can easily view theinformation related to the information to which the cursor is slid by asimple operation of sliding and matching the cursor. Besides, as thecurrently displayed choice marks remain displayed until the cursor isslid and pointed to another item of information, the related informationmay be confirmed any time even if the cursor is left intact for anelongated period of time.

[0157] In the display control device and the recording medium havingrecorded a program according to the present invention, a memory meansfurther stores plural items of information that constitute the secondgroup of items of information and that are made to correspond, in apredetermined corresponding relation, to plural items of informationthat constitute the first group of items of information. It is alsocharacterized by being controlled such that

[0158] plural items of information constituting the second group ofitems of information are read from a memory means and displayedsimultaneously in the second display area of the display means, one ofplural items of information constituting the second group of items ofinformation is chosen according to an information choice instructionentered through an input means, one or more items of informationconstituting the first group of items of information made to correspondin the predetermined corresponding relation is or are chosen on thebasis of the chosen one item of information, and

[0159] the one or more items of information are displayed on the firstdisplay area of the display means.

[0160] That is to say, in the second display are displayed the secondgroup of items of information that are made to correspond in specifiedcorresponding relation to the plural items of information constitutingthe first group of items of information. Therefore, one who wants toview information can easily view, by simply choosing one of plural itemsof information displayed on the second display area and entering theinformation choice instruction, only the information that is related tothe choice instruction out of a large number of items of informationconstituting the first group of items of information.

[0161] The display control device and the recording medium havingrecorded a program according to the present invention are arranged witha memory means provided with a table having recorded the correspondingrelation between items of information constituting the first group ofitems of information and items of information constituting the secondgroup of items of information. It is also characterized in that one ormore items of information constituting the first group of items ofinformation corresponding to the one item of information chose in thesecond group of items of information is or are chosen on the basis ofthe table.

[0162] Therefore, the corresponding relation between the items ofinformation constituting the first group of items of information and theitems of information constituting the second group of items ofinformation can be easily described by the use of the above table evenif the corresponding relation is complicated.

[0163] The display control device and the recording medium havingrecorded a program according to the present invention are arranged witha memory means provided with a table having recorded the displaypriority degrees of respective items of information constituting thefirst group of items of information on the first display area forrespective items of information constituting the second group of itemsof information. It is also characterized in that the display prioritydegrees of one or more items of information constituting the first groupof items of information corresponding to the one item of informationchosen in the second group of items of information are determined on thebasis of the table.

[0164] Therefore, the display priority degrees of each item, on thefirst display area, of information constituting the relevant first groupof items of information can be easily described using the above tablefor each item of information constituting the second group of items ofinformation. Therefore, plural items of information in the first groupof items of information related to a certain item of information in thesecond group of items of information may be easily displayed on thefirst display area in the order of priority degrees for example from toptoward bottom or from right to left.

[0165] The display control device and the recording medium havingrecorded a program according to the present invention are characterizedby being controlled such that, when an item of information constitutingthe first group of items of information displayed on the first displayarea of the display means is chosen, items of information that arerelated to the chosen item of information are displayed.

[0166] Therefore, it is possible for example to restrict the explanationof items of information constituting the first group of items ofinformation to a limited extent while giving detailed explanation of therelated items of information. In this way, the limited space of thefirst display area is efficiently used to transmit information. In otherwords, by restricting the display of the information constituting thefirst group of items of information to a limited extent of explanation,a large number of items of information can be displayed on the firstdisplay area. When any item of information is chosen from those items ofinformation, now a wider space on the first display area becomesavailable for more detailed explanation related to the chosen item ofinformation.

[0167] The display control device and the recording medium havingrecorded a program according to the present invention are arranged witha memory means having recorded the items of information constituting thefirst group of items of information or the items of information relatedto that information in a state that can be divided into plural fields ofinformation. It is also characterized by being controlled such that thefist display area of the display means is divided into plural areascorresponding to the plural fields of information, and the items ofinformation in the corresponding fields of information or related itemsof information are displayed respectively in the divided areas.

[0168] Therefore, items of information constituting the first group ofitems of information or items of information related to that items ofinformation can be divided into plural fields of information, anddisplayed dividedly according to the division on the first display area.In this way, information may be recognized for each field ofinformation. In other words, intended information related to the choiceinstruction may be more easily recognized.

[0169] The display control device and the recording medium havingrecorded a program according to the present invention are characterizedby being controlled such that items of information are displayed, in astate to be chosen, in the divided first display area and that, when anitem of information displayed on the first display area is chosen, thedisplay area size of the divided area containing the chosen item ofinformation becomes larger than the display area size of other dividedareas.

[0170] Therefore, it is possible for example to restrict the informationconstituting the first group of items of information to the extent of asimple explanation and display a large number of items of information onthe first display area. When any item of information is chosen fromthem, now a wider space can be secured for more detailed explanation ofthe information related to the chosen item of information. In this way,the limited space for the first display area is efficiently used totransmit information.

[0171] The display control device and the recording medium havingrecorded a program according to the present invention are characterizedby being constituted that a terminal computer having an input means anda display means, and a server computer that has a memory means andcontrols to display information on the display means of the terminalcomputer according to a program, may be interconnected through acommunications network.

[0172] Therefore, it is possible, when the Internet is used as acommunications network for example, to create Web pages that make itpossible to view intended information easily.

[0173] While the present invention is described above as preferableembodiments, the wording is meant not to be restrictive butillustrative, and may be changed without departing from the scope andspirit of the present invention, within the scope of appended claims.

1. A display control system comprising: an input means through which aninformation choice instruction is entered, a display means fordisplaying information, a display control means for controlling thedisplay means to display information according to the information choiceinstruction entered through the input means, and a memory means forstoring plural items of information that constitute a first group ofitems of information, wherein the display control means controls to readplural items of information constituting a first group of items ofinformation from the memory means, to simultaneously display the readitems of information in a first display area of the display means, tochoose one or more of plural items of information constituting the firstgroup of information according to the information choice instructionentered through the input means, and to attach a choice mark to theitems of information chosen out of the items of information displayed onthe first display area.
 2. A display control system comprising: an inputmeans through which information choice instruction is entered, a displaymeans for displaying information, a display control means forcontrolling the display means to display information according to theinformation choice instruction entered through the input means, and amemory means for storing plural items of information that constitute afirst group of items of information, wherein the display control meanscontrols to choose one or more items of information constituting a firstgroup of items of information according to the information choiceinstruction entered through the input means, to read the one or moreitems of information chosen from the memory means, and to display theinformation in the order of specified display priority degrees in thefirst display area of the display means.
 3. A display control device forcontrolling to display information using a display means according to aninformation choice instruction entered through an input means,comprising: a memory means for storing plural items of informationconstituting a first group of items of information, and a displaycontrol means for controlling to read from the memory means plural itemsof information constituting the first group of items of information, todisplay the items of information simultaneously in a first display areaof the display means, to choose one or more items of informationconstituting the first group of items of information according to theinformation choice instruction entered through the input means, and toattach a choice mark to the items of information chosen out of the itemsof information displayed on the first display area.
 4. A display controldevice according to claim 3, wherein the memory means further storesplural items of information that constitute a second group of items ofinformation and that are made to correspond in specified correspondingrelation to the plural items of information constituting the first groupof items of information, the display control means further controls toread plural items of information constituting the second group of itemsof information from the memory means and display them simultaneously ina second display area of the display means, to choose one of pluralitems of information constituting the second group of items ofinformation according to the information choice instruction enteredthrough the input means, to choose one or more items of informationconstituting the first group of items of information made to correspondin a predetermined corresponding relation on the basis of the chosen oneitem of information, and to attach a choice mark to the items ofinformation chosen out of the items of information displayed on thefirst display area.
 5. A display control device according to claim 4,wherein the display control means controls, when the cursor of thedisplay means is slid to one of plural items of information constitutinga second group of items of information displayed on a second displayarea of the display means, to deem the one item of information to havebeen chosen, to attach a choice mark to the items of information out ofthose displayed on the first display area and corresponding to the oneitem of information to which the cursor is slid, and to maintain thechoice mark currently displayed until the cursor is slid to another ofthe second group of items of information.
 6. A display control devicefor controlling a display means to display information according to aninformation choice instruction entered through an input means,comprising: a memory means for storing plural items of informationconstituting a first group of items of information, and the displaycontrol means for controlling to choose one or more items of informationconstituting the first group of items of information according to theinformation choice instruction entered through the input means, to readthe one or more items of information chosen from the memory means, andto display them on a first display area of the display means in theorder of specified display priority degrees.
 7. A display control deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the memory means further stores pluralitems of information that constitute the second group of items ofinformation and that are made to correspond in a specified correspondingrelation to plural items of information constituting the first group ofitems of information, and the display control means further controls toread plural items of information constituting the second group of itemsof information from the memory means and display them simultaneously ina second display area of the display means, to choose one of pluralitems of information constituting the second group of items ofinformation according to the information choice instruction enteredthrough the input means, to choose, on the basis of the one item ofinformation chosen, one or more items of information in the specifiedcorresponding relation from plural items of information constituting thefirst group of items of information, and to display the one or moreitems of information chosen on the first display area of the displaymeans.
 8. A display control device according to claim 4, wherein thememory means comprises a table having stored corresponding relationbetween the items of information constituting the first group of itemsof information and the items of information constituting the secondgroup of items of information, and the display control means chooses oneor more items of information constituting the first group of items ofinformation corresponding to one item of information chosen from thesecond group of items of information on the basis of the table.
 9. Adisplay control device according to claim 7, wherein the memory meanscomprises a table having stored, for respective items of informationconstituting the second group of items of information, the displaypriority degrees of the items of information constituting the firstgroup of items of information in the first display area, and the displaycontrol means determines, on the basis of the table, display prioritydegrees of one or more items of information that constitute the firstgroup of items of information and that correspond to the one item ofinformation chosen out of the second group of items of information. 10.A display control device according to claim 3, wherein the displaycontrol means controls, when an item of information constituting thefirst group of items of information displayed on the first display areaof the display means is chosen, to display items of information relatedto the chosen one item of information.
 11. A display control deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the memory means stores and holds, in astate divisible into plural information fields, information thatconstitutes or is related to the first group of items of information,and the display control means controls to divide the first display areaof the display means into plural areas corresponding to the pluralinformation fields, and to display in the respective, divided areas theinformation on or related to the corresponding information fields.
 12. Adisplay control device according to claim 11, wherein the displaycontrol means controls to display items of information, in a state to bechosen, in the divided first display area and, when an item ofinformation displayed on the first display area is chosen, to make thedisplay area size of the divided area containing the chosen item ofinformation larger than-that of other divided areas.
 13. A displaycontrol device according to claim 3, wherein the display control deviceis a server computer connectable through a communications network to aterminal computer comprising the input means and display means.
 14. Adisplay control device according to claim 7, wherein the memory meanscomprises a table storing corresponding relation between the items ofinformation constituting the first group of items of information and theitems of information constituting the second group of items ofinformation, and the display control means, on the basis of the table,chooses one or more items of information constituting the first group ofitems of information and corresponding to the one item of informationchosen out of the second group of items of information.
 15. A displaycontrol device according to claim 6, wherein the display control meanscontrols, when an item of information constituting the first group ofitems of information displayed on the first display area of the displaymeans is chosen, to display items of information related to the chosenone item of information.
 16. A display control device according to claim6, wherein the memory means stores and holds, in a state divisible intoplural information fields, information that constitutes or is related tothe first group of items of information, and the display control meanscontrols to divide the first display area of the display means intoplural areas corresponding to the plural information fields, and todisplay on the respective, divided areas the information on or relatedto the corresponding information fields.
 17. A display control deviceaccording to claim 16, wherein the display control means controls todisplay items of information, in a state to be chosen, on the dividedfirst display area and, when an item of information displayed on thefirst display area is chosen, to make the display area size of thedivided area containing the chosen item of information larger than thatof other divided areas.
 18. A display control device according to claim6, wherein the display control device is a server computer connectablethrough a communications network to a terminal computer comprising theinput means and display means.
 19. A recording medium on which isrecorded a program, the program for causing a computer system, made upof an input means for entering an information choice instruction, adisplay means for displaying information, and a memory means for storingplural items of information constituting a first group of items ofinformation, to perform controlling process of displaying information onthe display means according to the information choice instructionentered through the input means, wherein the controlling processcomprising the steps of: reading from the memory means plural items ofinformation constituting a first group of items of information,displaying the plural items of information simultaneously on a firstdisplay area of the display means, choosing one or more items ofinformation constituting the first group of items of informationaccording to the information choice instruction entered through theinput means, and attaching a choice mark to the items of informationchosen out of the items of information displayed on the first displayarea.
 20. A recording medium on which is recorded a program according toclaim 19, wherein the memory means further stores plural items ofinformation that constitute the second group of items of information andthat are made to correspond in a specified corresponding relation toplural items of information constituting the first group of items ofinformation, the program further controls to read plural items ofinformation constituting the second group of items of information fromthe memory means and display simultaneously on the second display areaof the display means, to choose one of plural items of informationconstituting the second group of items of information according to theinformation choice instruction entered through the input means, tochoose one or more items of information constituting the first group ofitems of information made to correspond in a predetermined correspondingrelation on the basis of the chosen one item of information, and toattach a choice mark to the items of information chosen out of the itemsof information displayed on the first display area.
 21. A recordingmedium on which is recorded a program according to claim 20, wherein theprogram controls, when the cursor of the display means is slid to one ofplural items of information constituting the second group of items ofinformation displayed on the second display area of the display means,to deem the one item of information to have been chosen, to attach achoice mark to the items of information out of those displayed on thefirst display area and corresponding to the one item of information towhich the cursor is slid, and to maintain the choice mark currentlydisplayed until the cursor is slid to another of the second group ofitems of information.
 22. A recording medium on which is recorded aprogram, the program for causing a computer system, made up of an inputmeans for entering an information choice instruction, a display meansfor displaying information, and a memory means for storing plural itemsof information constituting a first group of items of information, toperform controlling process of displaying information on the displaymeans according to the information choice instruction entered throughthe input means, wherein the program causes the computer system toperform controlling process of: choosing one or more items ofinformation constituting the first group of items of informationaccording to an information choice instruction entered through the inputmeans, reading the chosen one or more items of information from thememory means, and displaying them on a first display area of the displaymeans in the order of specified display priority degrees.
 23. Arecording medium on which is recorded a program according to claim 22,wherein the memory means further stores plural items of information thatconstitute the second group of items of information and that are made tocorrespond in a specified corresponding relation to plural items ofinformation constituting the first group of items of information, theprogram further controls to read plural items of informationconstituting the second group of items of information from the memorymeans and display simultaneously in a second display area of the displaymeans, to choose one of plural items of information constituting thesecond group of items of information according to an information choiceinstruction entered through the input means, to choose one or more itemsof information constituting the first group of items of information madeto correspond in a predetermined corresponding relation on the basis ofthe chosen one item of information, and to display the chosen one ormore items of information on the first display area of the displaymeans.
 24. A recording medium on which is recorded a program accordingto claim 20, wherein the memory means comprises a table storingcorresponding relation between the items of information constituting thefirst group of items of information and the items of informationconstituting the second group of items of information, and the program,on the basis of the table, chooses one or more items of informationconstituting the first group of items of information and correspondingto the one item of information chosen out of the second group of itemsof information.
 25. A recording medium on which is recorded a programaccording to claim 23, wherein the memory means comprises a table havingstored, for respective items of information constituting the secondgroup of items of information, the display priority degrees, on thefirst display area, of items of information constituting the first groupof items of information, and the program determines, on the basis of thetable, the display priority degrees of one or more items of informationthat constitute the first group of items of information and thatcorrespond to the one item of information chosen out of the second groupof items of information.
 26. A recording medium on which is recorded aprogram according to claim 19, wherein the program, when one item ofinformation constituting the first group of items of informationdisplayed on the first display area of the display means is chosen,controls to display items of information related to the chosen one itemof information.
 27. A recording medium on which is recorded a programaccording to claim 19, wherein the memory means stores and holds, in astate divisible into plural information fields, the information thatconstitutes or is related to the first group of items of information,and the program controls to divide the first display area of the displaymeans into plural areas corresponding to the plural information fields,and to display on the respective, divided areas information ofcorresponding information fields or information related to theinformation.
 28. A recording medium on which is recorded a programaccording to claim 27, wherein the program controls to display items ofinformation, in a state to be chosen, on the divided first display areaand, when an item of information displayed on the first display area ischosen, to make the display area size of the divided area containing thechosen item of information larger than that of other divided areas. 29.A recording medium on which is recorded a program according to claim 19,wherein the computer system is a system constituted with a terminalcomputer comprising the input means and display means, and a servercomputer that comprises the memory means to control and display theinformation on the display means of the terminal computer on the basisof the program, with both of the computers interconnected through acommunications network.
 30. A recording medium on which is recorded aprogram according to claim 23, wherein the memory means comprises atable storing corresponding relation between the items of informationconstituting the first group of items of information and the items ofinformation constituting the second group of items of information, andthe program, on the basis of the table, chooses one or more items ofinformation constituting the first group of items of information andcorresponding to the one item of information chosen out of the secondgroup of items of information.
 31. A recording medium on which isrecorded a program according to claim 22, wherein the program, when oneitem of information constituting the first group of items of informationdisplayed on the first display area of the display means is chosen,controls to display the items of information related to the chosen oneitem of information.
 32. A recording medium on which is recorded aprogram according to claim 22, wherein the memory means stores andholds, in a state divisible into plural information fields, informationthat constitutes or is related to the first group of items ofinformation, and the program controls to divide the first display areaof the display means into plural areas corresponding to the pluralinformation fields, and to display on the respective, divided areasinformation of corresponding information fields or information relatedto the information.
 33. A recording medium on which is recorded aprogram according to claim 32, wherein the program controls to displayitems of information, in a state to be chosen, on the divided firstdisplay area and, when an item of information displayed on the firstdisplay area is chosen, to make the display area size of the dividedarea containing the chosen item of information larger than that of otherdivided areas.
 34. A recording medium on which is recorded a programaccording to claim 22, wherein the computer system is a systemconstituted with a terminal computer comprising the input means anddisplay means, and a server computer that comprises the memory means tocontrol and display the information on the display means of the terminalcomputer on the basis of the program, with both of the computersinterconnected through a communications network.
 35. A display controlmethod for controlling to display information on a display meansaccording to an information choice instruction entered, arranged forcontrolling to store and hold plural items of information constituting afirst group of items of information, to read the plural items ofinformation constituting the first group of items information stored andheld, to display the items of information simultaneously on a firstdisplay area of the display device, to choose one or more items ofinformation constituting the first group of items of informationaccording to the entered information choice instruction, and to attach achoice mark to the items of information chosen out of the items ofinformation displayed on the first display area.
 36. A display controlmethod for controlling to display information on a display meansaccording to an entered information choice instruction, arranged forcontrolling to store and hold plural items of information constituting afirst group of items of information, to choose one or more items ofinformation constituting the first group of items of informationaccording to the entered information choice instruction, and to displaythe chosen one or more items of information in the order of specifieddisplay priority degrees on a first display area of the display means.